Swimming appliance



' April 15, 1924. 1;490,643

LE ROY F. SNAPP SWIMMING APPLIANCE Fil'ed May 1'? 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor. n LeRoy Fleicher Snopp 3a by/MI-JWMW .A ril 15 1924. 4 1,490,643

LE ROY F. SNAPP SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed May 17 1923 2 ShetsSheet 2 IIIIIIIIIII. A

Invenior. LeRoy Fletcher Snupp bYWWMM M Pat entecl Apr. 15, 1924.

treated LE ROY FLETCHER SNAPP,

SWIMMING- Application filed. May 17,

To all whom it may concern o it known that 1, LE ROY FLETCHER SNAPP, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Swimming Appliances, of which the following description, in con nect ion with the accompanying drawing, is

a specification, like characters on the drawrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to a swimming appliance of the type having wings which fold and spread in their own planes when the appliance is in use.

lhe swimming appliance is designed to be held on the hand of the swimmer and when the the hand is being pushed forward as when swimmer is using the so-called breast stroke or claw stroke the wings automatically fold into such a position that they offer little resistance to the water but when the hand is being pulled backward the wings automatically spread to give an enlarged surf ace for bearing against the water so that great force may be exerted to push the body of the swimmer forward.

s ecial t as of reversible hand 'ri or guard has been designed for use with the appliance in order to permit the appliance bein g used when the swimmer is swlmming with the overhand stroke in which the hand enters the water in a manner different from the breast stroke.

In using the overhand stroke the forward part of the hand ente able rs the water first and since it is desirthat the wings of the appliance spread at this time and close when the hand is withdrawn from the water,the action of the appliancemust bereversed.

By the use of the reversible hand grip or guard the position of the appliance with reference to the hand of the swimmer may be easily reversed so that the appliance maybe adapted for use with any stroke.

The objects and features of the invention will close and more fully appear from the following ription and the accompanying drawings will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate in perspective, elevation, and section a preferred form of construction of a swimming appliance and emb tion ody the broad principles of the inven- In the drawings or BROOKLYN, NEW YOEBK{ APPLIANCE.

1923, Serial No, 639,535.

the hand of the swimmer with the wings spread; g 1

Fig. 2 is a bottom View of the appliance with the wings spread;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the appliance with the wings folded;

Fig. 4c is a section through the guard for the hand and the body of the appliance;

Fig. '5 is a section on line 5-5, Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66, Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7, Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a partial bottom view of a modified form of the appliance with a .wing spread;

Fig. 9 is a partial view of the modified form of the appliance with a wing partially folded. i

As illustrated herein'the swimming ap pliance which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention comprises a rigid body 1 and a guard 2 fastened to the body for retaining the body on the hand of the swimmer. Wings 3 and 4 extend on either side of the body in order to give an enlarged surface for bearing against the water when the swimmer is making a backward stroke to force his body forward through the water. Links 5, 6, 7, and 8 connect the wings to the body in such a manner that when the hand of the swimmer is being pushed forward after the completion of one stroke andin preparation for taking another stroke, the wings are permitted to fold beneath the body in order to offer very little resistance to the water in their movement therethrough. The wings and links are so arranged that the wings are extensible on either side of the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body and the links are also of such shape that they present edges of very small surfaces to the water when the hand of the swimmer is being'pushed forward to take a stroke.

The wings may be of any suitable shape. I have shown the wings asbeing just so large that the inner edge 9 of each wing lies under the outer edge 10 of the body in order that a plane surface having no openings therethrough will be presented when the wings are spread. In order to insure that the links and wings will always fold into the proper position and not jam, one link of each pair of links whiclrconnect the wings to the body has a portion always engaging a similar portion on the corresponding link of the opposite pair to guide the links and wings into the proper folded position. As shown on the drawing the links 5 and 6 constitute one pair fastening the wing 3 to the body and the links 7 and 8 constitute a second pair fastening the wing 4c to the body. The link 6 has a portion 11 always engaging a similar portion 12 on the corresponding link 8 of the opposite pair and it will be obvious that when the wings are folded the portion 11 slides in between the portion 12 and the body 1 every time the wings are folded. As shown in Fig. 2 the wings are extended to their farthest position and the inner end of the portion 11. of the link 6 is under the corresponding portion 12 of the link 8. I prefer to make the links of the form shown in the drawings in order that the links may assist in closing any spaces between the wings and the body.

he body, wings, and links are pivotally connected and spaced from one another where necessary in order that they may fold properly. As illustrated herein rivets 13 are used to connect the body, wings, and links, and washers 14 surrounding the rivets are used as spacing elements. The inner edge 15 of the outer wing 3 is turned up to guide the wing 1 into the proper folded position. It is obviously necessary that the rivets be tight enough to keep the wings and links in their proper planes when extended, but yet loose enough so that they will not hinder the free movement of the parts of the appliance.

Means are provided to automatically open and close the links and wings when the appliance is being used and for limiting the spreading and folding movement of the wings. Each wing has a turned down portion at its front and rear end, thus wing 4- has a turned down portion 16 on its front end and a turned down portion 17 on its rear end. ing 3 has corresponding portions 18 and 19. The front ends 20 and 21v of portions 16 and 18 respectively are bent inwardly. It is readily seen that when the device is leing pushed forward through the water, the water bears against the portions 16 and 18 and the bent in ends 20- and 21 on the forward end of the wing and the portions 17 and 19 on the rear end of the wing to automatically close the wings but when the device is being pulled backwardly through the water, as when the swimmer is taking a propelling stroke, the pressure of the water against the portions 17 and 19 and the portions 16 and 18 and the front ends 20 and 21 will automatically spread the wings to open the device and give an enlarged surface for hearing against the water.

The rear end of the body is turned down giving a projection. 22 from the body into the planes of the wings to engage the wings and prevent the wings moving past the folded position. The manner in which the wings or the portions 17 and 19 thereof on gage the projections 22 is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The forward end 23 of the body is turned down as shown and the for ward links 5 and 7 have portions 2% and 2.3 which. abut against the turned down end to limit the spreading movement of the links.

The guard for retaining the device on the hand of the swimmer may be of any suitable shape but is preferably of the design shown in the drawings and is removably retained on the body. The guard is shaped to lit the back of the hand and has projections 26, 27, 28, and 29 thereon for engagement under retainers 80, 31, 32, and 33 on the body of the apoliancc. The retainers may conveniently be struck up portions of the body and the guard is resilient to force the projections under the retainers to hold the guard on the body. By using this construction it is obvious that the guard may be easily removed from the body of the appliance and reversed if back-hand or other stroke is to be used by the swimmer which necessitates the appliance spreading on the forward stroke instead of the rearward stroke of the swimming movement,

A flexible pad an is resiliently mounted within the guard to fit the palm of the hand and press the hand between the guard and the pad in order t retain the hand within the guard. Such pad may conveniently be a turned up end of the guard. lln order to give greater pressure on the pad 34 the other end of the guard 35 is turned up beneath the pad as o that when the hand is forced in between the top 36 of the guard and the pad, the pad 34 is pressed downwardly against the end 35 and thus the re siliency of both ends as and 35 are broughtv into use to securely but emovably hold the hand of the swimmer in the guard.

The projection 29 may conveniently be extended at 37 to form a thumb holder for holding the thumb adjacent the guard in the position shown in Fig. 1. This projection also serves as a point against which the thumb of the swimmer may be brought if it is desired to quickly remove the appliance from the hand. Hence by simply doubling the thumb and pushing against the end 37, the hand may be slipped within the guard and the appliance removed.

The modified form of appliance shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is the same in all essential characteristics and operates in substantially the same manner as the form of appliance shownin Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. In the modified form of appliance the forward and rear links and the wings have been modified slightly in order to provide a means for limiting the speading movement of the wings and links and at the same time pro-- vide additional means to automatically spread and fold the wings. Links 38 and 39 correspond to links 5 and 6 respectively and the wing 4-0 to the wing 3 shown on Fig. 2.

Instead of having the front end 23 of the body turned down to form a stop for the link 5 and the front end 21 of the portion 18 bent inwardly, all as shown in F igs. 2 and 3, the front end &1 of link 88 has een turned down to engage a portion 43 on the wing d0, thereby combining the desirable features of both of the front ends 21 and 23 by providing a stop for limiting the spreading movement of the wings and a means to automatically spread and fold the wings, and at the same time form a structure which offers little resistance to the water when moved forwardly therethrough. Thus instead of having the means for spreading and folding the wings entirely on the wings, part has been left on the wings and part has been put on the links. The end 41 is undercut to form a groove through which the front end 412 of the wing 40 may pass when spreading or folding. It is obvious from the position of the turned down end 4-1 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 that when the ap pliance is in position with the wings spread said end all assists in holding the wings in spread position during the back, or swim ming, stroke of the swimmer, and that during the forward stroke the water bears against the end ll to assist in folding the appliance.

Although particular and preferred forms of construction have been described, the invention is to be construed as broadly as the claims. taken in conjunction with the prior art, may allow.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A swimming appliance comprising a rigid body, wings extensible on either side of the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body, and links connecting the wings and body to permit the wings folding under the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body.

2. A swimming appliance comprising a rigid body, wings extensible on each side of the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body, and pairs of similar links connecting each wing to the body to permit the wings folding under the body, one link of each pair having a portion always engaging a similar portion on the corresponding link on the opposite pair to guide the links and wings into the proper folded position thereby preventing jamming of the parts when folding.

8. A swimming appliance comprising body, wings folding in the plane of the body, and a reversible guard to retain the appliance on the hand of the swimmer, whereby the appliance is rendered reversible in action and adjustable to the various strokes of the swimmer.

l. A swimming appliance comprising a rigid body, wings extensible oneither side of the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body, links connecting the wings and body to permit the wings folding under the body and to retain the inner edges of the wings under the body when the wings are in extending position and a removable reversible means to retain the appliance on the I hand of the swimmer.

5. A swimming appliance having a rigid body and wings extensible on either side thereof, means to retain the appliance on the hand of the swimmer comprising a guard to lit the back of the hand fastened to the body, and a flexible pad to fit the palm of the hand resiliently mounted to press the hand between the guard and the pad.

6. A swimming appliance having a rigid body and wings extensible on either side thereof, means to retain the appliance on the hand of the swimmer comprising a guard to lit the back of the hand removably fastened to the body, a flexible pad to fit the palm of the hand resiliently mounted to press the hand between the guard and the pad, and a thumb holder for holding the thumb adjacent the guard.

7. In a swimming appliance having a rigid body with retainers thereon and wings extensible on either side of the body, means to retain the appliance on the hand of the swimmer comprising a resilient guard to fit the back of the hand, a flexible pad to fit the palm of the hand resiliently mounted to press the hand between the guard and the pad, and projections on the guard for engagement under the retainers and held under the retainers by the resiliency of the guard, one of the projections being extended to form a thumb holder for holding the thumb adjacent the guard.

8. A swiimning appliance comprising a rigid body, wings extensible on either side of the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body, links connecting the wings and body to permit the wings folding under the body in planes parallel to the plane of the body, and a projection from the body into the planes of the wings to engage the wings and prevent the wings moving past the folded position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LE ROY FLETCHER SNAPP. 

